Magical Girl anime shows are a staple in the anime community. They are almost as old as the medium itself. For those that don’t know exactly what they are, Sailor Moon is a perfect example. That show, and others like it, tend to focus on young or teenage girls who can transform into magical forms. Imagine the genre like Power Rangers, but starring mostly female characters.
Most of these anime revolve around a monster of the week type of scenarios blended with slice-of-life comedy. That’s a generalization, but it gets the job done. Fans of this anime genre may have wanted to get into video games for some time now. There are thankfully plenty to recommend across a wide array of consoles and genres.
Updated May 30, 2023 by Ritwik Mitra: The allure of magical girls is both easy to see and hard to explain. Many fans loving the idea of pretty girls using their wealth of powers to change into totally different attire, becoming superheroines as they save the world from evil over and over again. These anime are fun to watch in their own right, with some magical girl shows being quite notable in their own right. Fans who love this genre will be more than pleased with the wealth of games that hit the same notes.
13 Hyperdimension Neptunia
Hyperdimension Neptunia is the first game in a series of magical girl JRPGs that are full to the brim with tight gameplay and boundless fanservice. This game is a joyride in every way, ensuring that players have as much fun as possible while leaning heavily into the magical girl genre. That being said, the games are far from progressive, and their depiction of women is questionable at best. This is evident in how dubious some of the outfits, are given the age of the women who wear them.
However, players willing to look past this dated depiction of women will find themselves immersed in a fun JRPG with a great gameplay loop. It may not be the most revolutionary title in the genre, but Hyperdimension Neptunia executes its concepts well and is a fun title to check out for fans of the magical girl genre.
12 Blue Reflection
Players who love the Persona series will enjoy what Blue Reflection brings to the table. The game focuses on the story of Hinako Shirai, a schoolgirl who stopped being a ballet dancer after a foot injury, only to get the powers of a Reflector and be able to move around freely once again.
However, this power comes with its own set of responsibilities. Hinako must juggle a double life as a normal high school student who forms valuable relationships in the real world, while entering an alternate world to fight monsters as a magical girl with her friends. This is where the Persona comparisons come to light. Players must foster relationships that allow them to access passive skills that can be used in the fight of the Reflectors against these monsters.
11 This Way Madness Lies
The combination of Shakespeare and the magical girl genre sounds like an odd yet interesting combination. Many people will be amazed by the deft manner in which This Way Madness Lies executes this combination. Titles like these are a great example of why the indie gaming scene is so creative and astounding, developing experiences that most people didn't think to be possible.
The game has little to no filler, funneling players through multiple set pieces with great comedic writing that makes the experience stand out even more. This short and sweet experience is a must-play for fans of unique JRPGs who want to check out a different and more jovial setting in this genre.
10 Bayonetta
The best way to experience both Bayonetta games is on Switch. That’s because the Nintendo versions include costumes from iconic Nintendo franchises such as The Legend of Zelda. These games already have Magical Girl energy to them with the titular star kicking a lot of angel butt.
Adding in the ability to dress up as Link, for example, takes things to a new level. Hopefully, fans can also one day play Bayonetta 3 which was teased oh so long ago.
9 Castlevania: Order Of Ecclesia
Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia is one of the very few games in this series that starred a female protagonist. Shanoa is just as powerful as any of her Castlevania counterparts such as Trevor Belmont and Alucard.
She has the unique trait of absorbing monster abilities through a magical back rune that is pretty much a tattoo. She may not transform into a Magical Girl but this girl has plenty of power to keep evil at bay. It is the last full 2D Metroidvania in the series.
8 Final Fantasy 10-2
Final Fantasy 10-2 is the ultimate Magical Girl example. It was unique at the time because it was the first game in the series to be a numbered sequel. Most other games are standalone adventures featuring new worlds and characters.
Yuna, Rikku, and Paine have plenty of girl-powered adventures with an addicting Job system that has the trio dressing up into plenty of wild costumes. It was quite an unexpected surprise given what the original game was about. The only downside was that blitzball was different.
7 Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact does have male characters, but it equally has a lot of female heroes as well. When this was first shown off, no one could have or expected this anime-inspired clone of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild to be any good.
It was a free-to-play game that carried a lot of stigma with it. Needless to say, the reactions post-launch have been incredible as well as the developer support for it. This is without a doubt the most anime-heavy game on the list and Magical Girl fans will love it.
6 Momodora: Reverie Under The Moonlight
Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight is a 2D Metroidvania game. It flew a little under the radar when it came out even though reviews for it were good. It features a female cast of villains with the hero looking like a little red riding hood equivalent in character design and in her weapon choices. It was a hard game to master but patches and other versions of it have added in easier modes to help cater to more casual players.
5 Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir is an HD remaster of the PS2 exclusive original. It follows multiple characters in a beautifully designed 2D action RPG. Each character’s campaign ties into the others all while being their own adventures.
There are male heroes, but the female heroes outnumber them. What’s great, besides the separate campaigns are that they all play differently too. Gwendolyn is a Valkyrie who wields a spear, Mercedes is a flying fairy with a crossbow, and Velvet is a witch with a chain whip.
4 Sakuna: Of Rice And Ruin
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin flew a little under the radar in 2020 because it had the unfortunate release date around the new console launches. It’s a 2D action RPG starring the goddess, Sakuna, who gets stripped of her godly powers and must do good deeds for mortals in order to ascend back into her rightful place. It’s mostly an action game, but there are simulation parts to it as involving as gardening. It’s a great blend of genres with a fun female lead.
3 Sayonara Wild Hearts
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a very short game. What’s there is a fantastic journey and well worth the price of admission. It’s almost like a playable CD as players venture through a series of dream-like battles against various gangs.
The music is catchy, and the visuals, while minimalistic, really pop on whatever platform one chooses such as the Switch. There are reasons to replay it after the initial hour, but it’s also good enough to feel great as a one-and-done situation.
2 Senran Kagura: Estival Versus
Senran Kagura: Estival Versus is one of many games in this series about a magical ninja school for girls. The gameplay is action-based, with enemies encountering players in hordes on small maps.
There are tons of girls to choose from, each with their own unique powers and weapons. They fight in normal attire but can also magically transform into superpower states with new, even more revealing, outfits.
1 Shantae And The Pirate's Curse
There are many games in this series to choose from but Shantae and the Pirate's Curse is among the best. It’s a tight Metroidvania action-platformer starring the titular half-genie hero. Hop around islands, explore new territories with different powers, and fight plenty of baddies.
It’s a fun gameplay loop that will hook any Metroidvania fan. The entire series screams girl power thanks to the colorfully stacked cast. This game is great, but they are all worth a look.